"Test Game of Mr Rapier’s OHW WWII Mods" Topic

All,

I've been a fan of Martin's blog ( link ), particularly his WWII fights on small tables at higher echelons (Brigade, Division, sometimes even Corps-level fights). I absolutely love reading his batreps at this echelon, they watching battalions move into the attack, get mauled, fall back, replaced by another battalion that carries the objective, true combined-arms fights that add in air support and logistics in very simple, straightforward mechanics. I've always been a fan of his batreps, but then he went and made an even simpler set of rules (by modifying Neil Thomas' "One Hour Wargames" rules), and was kind enough to post them for all of us to use, as well as a number of scenarios. After much hemming and hawing, I finally got around to giving them a run out on the table.

Overview, north is right. The table is 3' x 3', with minimal terrain due to the scale of the engagement (I believe the ground scale is somewhere around 3" = 800m). Les Nouillions is at far left, Le Haut de Grainvilles is at bottom center left, Queudeville is at top center right, and the Chateau Grainville is at right center. There is hardball road (the gray roads) running to all of the names urban areas, the dark blue line running top to bottom on left side of table is actually an elevated railroad (sorry, I don't have any 6mm roads or railroads), and each of the hedge-looking things is actually a treeline. If it looks odd and you're wondering what the hell it is, I've used 28mm barbed wire at each corner of the fighting area to square out my 3' x 3' area.

Here's the scenario: 29 June 1944, Operation Epsom, 9th SS Panzergrenadier Divison counterattack at Grainville Chateau.

Elements of the British 8th Royal Scots are occupying the Grainville Chateau, with the remainder on the way, as well as a Squadron of Churchills from 9th Royal Tank Regiment. They have two batteries of 25-pdr artillery off-table. The Brits are 'regulars' (each stand is removed at 6 hits) and their job is to hold the Chateau.

Elements of III Battalion, 20th Panzergrenadier Regiment are occupying Les Nouillions, with a company of Panthers from 9th Panzer Regiment on the way and a battery of 10.5cm artillery off-table in support. The Germans are 'elite' (each stand is removed at 7 hits) and their job is to take the Chateau.

The Brits:
-A, B, C, and D rifle companies, 8th Royal Scots
-Support Company, 8th Royal Scots
-A Squadron, 9th RTR
-A and B Battery (sorry, scenario didn't list parent unit)

The Huns:
-1st and 2nd PzGren Companies, III/20th PzGren Rgmt
-4th (Heavy) Company, III/20th PzGren Rgmt (I'll refer to it as "Schwere Company")
-16th (Engineer) Company, III/20th PzGren Rgmt (I'll refer to it as "Pioneer Company")
-1st Company, 9th Pz Rgmt (scenario didn't provide battalion, I suppose it's probably I/9th Pz Rgmt?)
-1st Battery (sorry, scenario didn't list)

Ha! I got so excited that I screwed up and forgot to take a shot of initial deployment, so here's what you get, a photo at the end of Turn 1! It's pretty simple, the Brits started with A Co occupying the Chateau, Support Company dug in on the road behind a treeline, and B Co dug in on the MSR running north-south (all at right center), then A/9th RTR and C Co entered the area (far right), with D Co still off table in reserve (with the two batteries of artillery). The Germans started with all their infantry in Les Nouillions (far left); 2nd PzGren Co, Schwere Co, and Pioneer Co mounted in their halftracks and headed north via the MSR (left bottom) while 1st PzGren Co sat tight in Les Nouillions and waited for 1/9th Panzer's Panthers to arrive (far left, with their artillery off table).

The action is heating up near the Chateau (just visible at top right), where the German Scwhere Company (far left), 2nd PzGren Co (just below it), and Pioneer Company (bottom left) face off against the British B Company (center), D Company (far right), and Support Company (top center).

To see how the fight turned out, and a bunch of my blathering about the rules, please check the blog at:
link

I hope you enjoyed it, I certainly did, hoping to get more on the table this coming weekend. Got some other stuff going on, too, I'll have to see if I can get it typed up. But most of all, thanks to Martin for sharing these rules, I had a great time with them!

V/R,
Jack

I'm glad you enjoyed the rules Jack. Lovely kit BTW, 6mm?

The stars had aligned: a little free time, an empty table, and a simple path to some gaming fun.

Jack, you did really good with your busy space and time continuum there!

Excellent game running…..and so you're inclined to use Martin's hex-grid version too, huh?

I'm all in on that sentiment, and for Bn.+ level scenarios, it makes lots of sense (now you've seen examples of some of my mats over time here):

Grids don't have to look like grids either – and might actually look more RL-featured than with lots of other gamin' means (with lay-on/scatter terrain).

I like you stands here – they look like combat units, and one gets great battlefield perspective with them (that's why one comes to 'respect' the smaller scales too).

Nice looking game, Jack! I do like the way you have portrayed these larger scale units as well.

Martin – Thanks for everything, and yes, 6mm.

Dave – I do what I can ;) And yes, I'm loving the idea of going with hexes, but no way mine will look as nice as yours! I'm proud of those stands, they certainly look the part, but they don't all fit the way these rules are set up, plus I have to do something with all my 15mm troops, or get rid of them!

Cap'in – Thanks man! I still dream of doing 6mm with your setup ;)

V/R,
Jack

Thanks for posting. Like you, I'm a fan of Martin's site and especially his WW2 rules. I look forward to your further exploits with the rules!

Jack, I abide by that 3-scales to a period is our usual limit. :)))

Your AAR here got me thinking more on table scales – and btw, just saw a beautiful thread with a table full of biggun' Napoleonics on the forum……

(I couldn't really make out what was going on….. on that table)

There's actually a battlefield perspective seen at our normal viewing angle with these smaller scales, jokingly sometimes called that 30,000 foot viewpoint, but I think there's probably an opposite wargamer's view also….when too many big figures distract or get in the way of seeing the battle.

Sydney – Thanks a bunch, I'm working on it. I think the cheapest, fastest way is going to be to draw my own hexmat.

Dave – Yeah, the three scales thing is killing me! ;)

I'm absolutely with you on ‘table scale,' which is why I've got a bit of remorse on my jump into 28mm. In retrospect I would not have bought nearly as many troops/vehicles for each force, would have left it just for small-scale skirmish actions. As you pointed out, too many troops that are too big takes away the ability to maneuver.

V/R,
Jack